Jack B. Brooks of Beaumont, Texas represented the 2nd Congressional District in the
United States House of Representatives from 1953 through 1966 and the 9th
Congressional District from 1967 through 1995. Born in Crowley, Louisiana, on
December 18, 1922, he moved to Beaumont at the age of 5. He attended public schools
and received a scholarship to Lamar Junior College. He transferred to The University
of Texas and earned a BA in journalism (1943). During World War II, Brooks enlisted
in the United States Marine Corps, serving for approximately two years in the
Pacific Theatre on Guadalcanal, Guam, Okinawa, and in North China. He continued his
military service in the Marine Corps Reserves until retirement as a colonel in
1972.

In 1946, at the age of 24, Brooks, a lifelong Democrat, began his commitment to
public service when voters elected him to represent Jefferson County in the Texas
Legislature. He won reelection in 1948 without opposition. While a member of the
legislature, he earned a law degree from the University in 1949.

Brooks made his initial run for Congress in 1952. Following his election he served
for the next five decades in Congress. As a member of the influential Texas
Congressional delegation, Brooks became a close friend of powerful House Speaker Sam
Rayburn during the 1950’s. During his tenure in the Congress, Brooks held many
leadership roles on congressional committees and subcommittees. His notable
positions included the chairmanship of the House Committee on Government Operations
from 1975 through 1988 and the chairmanship of the House Committee on the Judiciary
between 1989 and 1995. Brooks became the senior member of the Texas Congressional
delegation in 1979, a position he held until he left office in 1995.

In the 1960s, as a ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, Jack Brooks helped
write the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. During the
national turmoil surrounding the Watergate scandal in 1974, he played a major role
during the impeachment proceedings against President Richard M. Nixon, who resigned
as president as a result of revelations from his involvement in the scandal. As the
chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Brooks also sponsored significant pieces of
legislation, including the Single Audit Act of 1984, the Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1990, the Omnibus Crime Control Act of 1991, and the Civil Rights Act of
1991.

On November 22, 1963, Brooks rode in the motorcade carrying President John F. Kennedy
and many members of the Texas Congressional delegation through downtown Dallas.
Following President Kennedy’s assassination, Brooks stood by during the swearing in
of President Lyndon Johnson on Air Force One at Dallas' Love Field.

As the leader of the Government Operations Committee, Congressman Brooks oversaw
legislation affecting budget and accounting matters and the establishment of
departments and agencies. In this role, he also helped pass the Inspector General
Act of 1978, the General Accounting Office Act of 1980, and the Paper Reduction Act
of 1980.

Brooks sponsored the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. The bill,
which carried the federal assault weapons ban, has been credited with contributing
to the drop in crimes committed in the United States during the 1990s. During his
nearly half a century of service to the people of his district, Brooks secured
support for many local and regional projects. These included funding for the Rayburn
Dam and Reservoir and for making extensive improvements to deep water shipping
channels along the Texas coast. He also helped pass legislation to provide flood
insurance to individuals and businesses suffering losses due to hurricanes and other
natural disasters.

Jack Brooks married Charlotte Collins in 1960. The couple’s three children are Jeb
Brooks, Kate Brooks Carroll, and Kim Brooks and their grandchildren are Matthew
Carroll and Brooke Carroll. Jack Brooks continued to live in Beaumont, Texas, and remained
active in the Democratic Party until his passing in December 2012.

Correspondence, printed material, creative works, legal documents, financial
documents, minutes, photographic materials, sound recordings, and works of art make
up the Jack B. Brooks Papers, 1945-2002. Brooks and his staff created the bulk of
the material during his term as United States Representative from Texas (1953-1994),
though the papers also contain records from Brooks’ previous service in the Texas
State Legislature (1946-1952).

Arrangement

The collection is arranged chronologically by congressional session. At the series
level, files are arranged alphabetically, unless noted otherwise in the series
description.

Personal/Political/Official Subgroup, 1953-1994

The Appointment Files (1953-1993) consist of Congressman Brooks’ appointment
calendar books and office Guest Registries, including individual registries
from special events. Arranged chronologically. Correspondence and records
related to office patronage and visitation may also be located in the
general correspondence series.

Trip Files (1955–1967) document Brooks’ foreign service work, focusing
primarily on South America. Material related to Brooks’ travel, both
professional and personal may also be located in the Brooks series.

The General Series (1953–1994) consists primarily of correspondence and
encompasses a broad range of topics, many of which could relate to other
series within the collection such as: campaign files, congressional district
activity and leadership, Texas state agency information, correspondence
related to photographs, newsletters, and/or issue mailings, office visitors,
and speeches. Included in this series are VIP correspondence files by name,
constituent requests, congratulatory correspondence and general
correspondence.

Invitation files (1953–1994) are not designated as accepted and nonaccepted
invitations. Congressman Brooks’ appointment calendars and schedules should
reflect his attendance at functions.

Campaign/Election/Political Party files (1954–1968) include Brooks’ election
certificates, candidate filing papers and campaign materials. More
information related to Brooks’ campaign, as well as Democratic Party
activity could also be located in the General Series. Oversized campaign
signs were accessioned in the Brooks Artifact Collection.

The Brooks series (1959–1992) contains files designated as such by Brooks’
office staff. The designation first appears in the general files in 1959.
The series fluctuated from being included in general or independent from
1966 to 1970, when it was organized as its own reoccurring series. Series
files relate to activities initiated by Brooks or his own staff including:
gifts, office publications, personal travel, Brooks family activities and
correspondence, contributions, speeches, organization memberships, etc.

The Miscellaneous Series (1953–2002) has two sub-series: Memorabilia and
Biographical/Personal. The Memorabilia sub-series includes the Brooks
Artifact Collection and awards/honors. Some material may be restricted
because of physical condition. The Biographical/Personal sub-series includes
files designated as “personal” by office staff, biographical sketches and
history, and other miscellaneous material collected because of Brooks’
personal interest or involvement in the subject. Files could also be located
in the Brooks series.

Legislative Subgroup, 1947 – 1994

Bill files (1953 – 1994) includes drafts of bills, copies of bills, and
related materials. Bill information is also listed in the Legislative
Activities reports prepared at the end of Congressional Sessions and listed
in the Voting Records Series.

Voting records (1953 – 1993) indicate how Brooks voted on bills that came
before the House of Representatives, includes official Legislative
Activities reports prepared at the conclusion of each congressional session.

Congressional Record (1955 – 1994)
statements include either office draft of the statement or copies from the
Congressional Record.

Subject files (1953 – 1991) have two sub-series: Issues Mail and
Congressional Activity Issues Mail is sorted chronologically and includes
correspondence regarding “issues of the day” distributed in Brooks “Report
to Constituents.” Congressional Activity files include all materials related
to committee activities, including copies of proposed legislation, committee
and non-congressional correspondence, background information and/or
research, clippings, press releases, and publications. Special topics
covered by committee are located at the end of the committee files.
Miscellaneous committee files could be filed alphabetically or at the end of
each year.

Special interest files (1959 – 1978) are files of pertaining to issues of
particular interest to Brooks throughout his career. Material is listed
alphabetically by topic and could include correspondence, reports, memos,
clippings, bill copies, and research files.

Index to Watergate Hearing Books (Individual itemized
indexes located at the beginning of each book and/or
volume)

Book I: Events prior to the Watergate
break-in, December 2, 1971 – June 17, 1972

Book II: Events following the Watergate
break-in,; Allegations involving Presidential
interference with the official Department of Justice
investigation. June 17, 1972 – February 9,
1973

Book III: Events following the Watergate
break-in,, Vols. 1-2; Allegations concerning payments
of “hush” money to Watergate defendants to insure their silence,
offers of leniency and executive clemency, and the making or
causing to be, of false statements to persons connected to an
official investigation of Watergate; chronology of events
between June 20, 1972 – February 28,
1973February 9 and March 22,
1973

Box

2007-255/738

Book III: Vols. 3-5, Material related to event from
February 28 – March 22,
1973

Book IV: Events following the Watergate break-in,
; Events
relating to the President’s investigation of the alleged
Watergate break-in and cover-up between . March 22 – April 30, 1973March 22 and
April 30, 1973

Book V: Testimony of Richard Kleindienst before the
Senate Judiciary Committee in February 1972 regarding the
commencement, prosecution and settlement of the anti-trust
action against the International Telephone and Telegraph
Corporation, Vol. 1, File 1

Box

2007-255/739

Book V: Vol. 1, File 2, Vols. 2-3.

Box

2007-255/739/

Book VI: Political contributions pledged and made by milk
producers’ cooperatives from 1969 through 1972 for the benefit
of the President’s re-election campaign and the Administration’s
decision to increase price supports on dairy
products

Constituent Services Subgroup, 1953 – 1991

Subgroup Scope and Content Note

Note: Correspondence concerning Texas agencies, legislation, and politics may
be located in the General Series of the Personal/ Political/Official
Subgroup. Files are cross-referenced and index lists location of possibly
related material. Some material may be restricted.

Casework (1947 – 1991) consists of constituent correspondence detailing an
issue, project, or question Brooks assisted in resolving or answering. There
may also be files of general information unrelated to specific projects.
Files are sorted chronologically and then alphabetically by related
government department.

Projects (1945 – 1994) includes all materials related to projects affecting
Brooks’ congressional district in Texas, regardless of the level of Brooks’
involvement in the project. Filed by individual city. Information regarding
hearings on district projects may also be located in the Congressional
Activity sub-series of the Legislative Subgroup. Project files grouped
separately by office staff are listed ahead of general project files. These
include: Post office, Water rights, McGee Bend Dam (now the Sam Rayburn Dam)
and Lake Sabine/Toledo Bend Dam.

Administrative district files (1953 – 1964) include materials maintained by
Brooks’ office staff that related to district information, including
organizational lists and “yellow” copies of office correspondence addressing
district issues.

Military Academy files (1953) contain information on candidates requesting
Brooks’ nomination for entry into a military academy. Candidate request
material could also be located in casework series with Defense Department
files.

Brief submitted to the Subcommittee for Legislative
Reorganization of the House Government Operations Committee
by Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce re: the retention of Port
Arthur, Texas as Headquarters Port, Sabine Customs
Department

Press/Media Activities Subgroup 1945-1994

Subgroup Scope and Content Note

Note: Correspondence concerning press and media materials may be located in
the General Series of the Personal/ Political/Official Subgroup. Files are
cross-referenced and index lists location of possibly related material. Some
material may be restricted because of physical condition.

Press files (1953 – 1994) has three sub-series:
Newsletters/Reprints, news releases, and speeches. Newsletters/Reprints are
copies of articles by and about Brooks, copies of newsletters issued by
Brooks’ staff and reprints of addresses and Congressional Record statement,
as well as related correspondence. Materials were filed in different series
throughout the years. Other locations could include the General Series or
the Brooks Series, both part of the Personal/Political/Official Subgroup.
Files related are cross- referenced in Legislative and Constituent Services
subgroups. News releases consist mainly of releases issues by Brooks’
office, but also include drafts of releases, statements prepared but not
released and related documentation. Speech files include drafts and texts of
remarks delivered by Brooks and related correspondence and documentation.
Speech files listed may also be located in the Brooks series.

Newspapers/Scrapbooks (1953 – 1994) include files of
clippings regarding Brooks, as well as items used to provide information on
persons, issues, projects, and events of special interest to Brooks.
Material collected by Brooks staff or through constituent correspondence.
2007-255/es containing whole newspaper editions will have contents stacked
vertically.

Photographs (1946 - 1994) consist of two sub-series:
photographs and slides/negatives. The majority of photographs were taken by
House of Representatives photographers or taken in the House and at official
House functions. Arranged chronologically by date, files are labeled with
date, occasion and person(s) included in photo as originally noted by
Brooks’ office staff. Oversized photos arranged separately. Some photo files
containing negatives or contact sheets from which staff could order
photographs. These files are marked with an asterisk (*). Slides/negatives
are poorly labeled as to the occasion. Correspondence related to pictures,
such as requests or orders is located in the general series of the
Personal/Political/Official subgroup. Listing reflects label on 2007-255/or
package.

Recordings (1958 – 1990) include film, video and audio
of Brooks throughout his career, including press conferences, radio
broadcasts, TV programs, committee hearings, campaign spots and special
functions, as well as correspondence related to films and radio and TV
recordings. Correspondence related to films, such as requests or orders is
located in the general series of the Personal/Political/Official subgroup.
Listing includes number of items and dates if labeled, but material has not
been indexed.

Letter to Colonel E.A. Hansen, United States Corps of
Engineers, Galveston re: Public Hearings in Port Arthur to
survey investigations by Corps of Engineers to determine means
of preventing loss of life and property damage resulting from
hurricanes, March 18, 1958

Memo by Brooks re: The Pentagon
Program, A Discussion of President’s Proposals For
Reorganizing Defense Department, by Hanson W. Baldwin, New York
Times, April 7, 1958

Remarks by Brooks re: Congressional Record Appendix –
John Gray Exemplifies Finest in Community Service, House of
Representatives, April 17, 1958

Excerpts from: “Statement by Arthur S. Flemming,
Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare Before the House Ways
and Means Committee of the United States House of
Representatives Wednesday, May 4, 1960

Copy of Congressman Brooks letter to Secretary of Defense
Robert S. McNamara re: The Declaring of Fort Hood, Texas a
“Remote” Area, August 18, 1961

Report Sent to Democratic Precinct Chairmen, August 23, 1961

Memo re: Concerning Legislation Approved by House Ways
and Means Committee to Provide Relief to Individual Stockholders
of Dupont and General Motors Subsequent to Anti-Trust Action on
Dupont Ownership of GM Stock, September 11, 1961

Bill to Provide for Decentralization and Relocation of
Facilities and Personnel of Executive Agencies in the Washington
D.C Area, September 6, 1961

Memo by Brooks re: Work with Efficiency
Subcommittee, July 1958

College Academic Facilities Act, H.R. 8900 in the Senate
of the United States, January 31, 1962

Statement by Brooks at Conclusion of Efficiency Hearings
with Department of Commerce, August 6, 1962

The Small Business administration and the Department of
the Interior Will Be Next Agencies Examined in the Government
Activities Subcommittee Series of "Save-as-you-go" Public Hearings, Friday, August 10, 1962

Opening Statement by Chairman Jack Brooks, Government
Activities Subcommittee on Government Operations, for Hearing on
Small Business Administration, undated

Statement by Brooks at Close of Efficiency Hearing re:
Small Business Administration, Government Activities
Subcommittee, August 13, 1962

House Efficiency Hearings Held by Government Activities
Subcommittee on Secretary of Interior, August 14, 1962

Opening Statement by Chairman Jack Brooks, Government
Activities Subcommittee, Committee on Government Operations, at
Hearing on Department of the Interior, August 15, 1962

Closing Statement of Congressman Brooks, Chairman, House
Government Activities Subcommittee on Efficiency Hearing on
Department of Interior, August 15, 1962

Fourth in a Series of House Government Activities
Efficiency Hearings Scheduled with the Civil Service
Commission

Closing Statement of Chairman Jack Brooks, House
Government Activities Subcommittee at Efficiency Hearing with
Civil Service Commission, August 20, 1962

Closing Statement of Chairman Jack Brooks, House
Government Activities Subcommittee Following Hearings with
Postmaster General J. Edward Day Regarding Post Office Policies
on Transporting Cash, August 27, 1962